Violence after school girl raped in Delhi

A seven-year-old girl was raped at a government school in Mangolpuri area of northwest Delhi on Thursday afternoon, triggering violent protests by locals who were cane-charged by police.

The school is run by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

The girl was found in an injured condition inside the school and later taken to Sanjay Gandhi hospital. The victim's parents informed the police about the incident on Friday morning after doctors confirmed sexual assault. The girl's private parts are partially damaged, a police officer said.

"The victim was raped by a man inside the school campus on Thursday. Her parents approached us on Friday morning and a case has been registered. The victim could not tell us anything about the attacker. We are investigating the case. We are questioning the male staff, including teachers and a guard," the official added.

Enraged over the incident, locals, including a number of women, staged protests in the locality as well as near the hospital. A section of the protesters later turned violent near the hospital and pelted stones at vehicles and broke police barricades. Some policemen and locals were injured in the incident.

The protesters alleged police were not actively pursuing the case and arresting the culprits.

At least three government-run buses, PCR vans and some private vehicles were damaged in the incident. Police have been deployed in large numbers to ensure no untoward situation in the locality.

Condemning the rape of the girl, NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma said incidents like these are on the rise and unless tough punishment is incorporated, the mindset of such offenders will not change. "This is a case of rape of a seven-year-old girl. I believe that tough action should be initiated...I will also send the matter for enquiry in two to three days," she said.